BABBOE

Colour

The Babboe City Mountain is based on the best-selling "bakfiets" City but on steroids. Combining the awesome Yamaha 250w mid-drive electric motor and the step less Nuvinci 330 gear hub you can get up to speed no matter how much weight you are carrying and then stop on a dime with the powerful hydraulic disc brakes.

With its low-slung frame and cargo bin, the centre of balance is stable and the drive from the Yamaha motor is controlled and comfortable resulting a cargo bike that is faster and more maneuverable. The large cargo bin has a capacity of 80kg and comfortably sits two little ones (four if you insert the optional extra bench) so you can do a school and grocery run with ease! The frame itself can accommodate riders between the heights of 5’, 4” and 6’, 4” with a quick adjustment of the saddle height and even the handlebar height.

The rest of the spec does not disappoint with a frame manufactured from tough galvanized Hi-Ten steel which has a chip-resistant powder-coated finish and a marine-grade plywood box with a battery compartment under the bench tucked away from curious hands, this Babboe is designed for perpetual outdoor storage and is a true four-season workhorse!

EXPECTED DELIVERY 1st APRIL

Classic Bakfiets two wheeled cargo bike with Yamaha E-Assist

Low center of gravity gives a stable, controlled and comfortable ride

Yamaha 250w Mid-Drive motor will get you up any hill no matter how much weight you are carrying

Yamaha 36v Lithium-Ion Battery will take you up to 60km on a single charge

Nuvinci 330 step less internal gear hub has a massive 300% gear range

Powerful hydraulic disc brakes for all weather confident braking

Room for two little ones with dual three-point harnesses (four if you insert the optional extra bench)

Ride out of the Box is our exclusive shipping service. Our professional mechanics fully assemble and tune the bike, install any accessories that you choose and package it carefully for damage and care-free shipping.

By shipping it through freight-lanes rather than courier-lanes greatly minimizes transfer points and damages. You get a bike that is ready to ride, with full manufacturer’s warranty and delivered right to your front door.

Estimate Shipping

BABBOE COMPANY PROFILE: Babboe is Europe's largest cargo bike manufacturer and you only have to spend five minutes in Holland to see five or six ride by. No one understands quality like the Dutch, or for that matter, thrift. In Holland, spending money is an act of saving money. Things are made to last, and while they may cost a bit more, they also don't cost a fortune. So, while more expensive brands exist with more bells and whistles, Babboe provides a high quality, low maintenance, rust resistant platform that features marine-grade impact-resistant boxes and Yamaha e-assist motors (which are the very best).

Will this take up a lot of space on the road?

Not really, most bike lanes are 1.5 – 2 meters wide and the Babboe is only 110cm wide, leaving plenty of room for other transport users to pass.

Two-wheeled or three-wheeled?

It really comes down to how much of a learning curve you’re OK with. Trikes like the Nihola and Babboe Carve have the lowest learning curve since they are remarkably stable and feature highly intuitive independent steering. Bikes like the Curve are equally stable but require some learning curve in the steering, since the whole box steers and not just the wheels. Two-wheeled bikes don’t have the stability of the third wheel so they build stability through a long wheelbase (Bullitt bikes are the exception here). This requires a bit of a learning curve, especially when riding at slow speeds since the bike can feel a bit wobbly. But, the advantage of a two-wheeled is that it’s terrific for longer rides (less drag) and it feels the most like a regular bike (if that matters).

Why an e-assist cargo bike?

Several reasons! First, you might carry a lot of weight up in the box, or second, you commute longer distances or have to deal with hills. When buying a cargo bike we recommend not always thinking about the short-distance errands that constitute most urban life, but also its use for all-day weekend adventures.

Why a mid-drive versus a front or rear drive?

Great question! The e-assist market started with front wheel drives about a decade ago. They weren’t great. On a wet day as you slowed down into a corner the computer might sense (wrongly) that you need a boost and suddenly you’re slipping off the bike while executing a turn. The rear-drive is much better, but is dominated by many unknown players (except Bionx, which is terrific). But, the big problem with rear-drives is that you are forced to use a derailleur system whereas a mid-drive allows for a low maintenance internal gear hub.

Does the battery lock to the bike?Yep. That’s one expensive chunk of Lithium Ion. It locks under the bench and only you can remove it with the key provided.

How long does it take to charge the battery?

It takes five hours to charge the battery from flat to full, and there is no problem if you only charge the battery a little bit, halfway, or whatever. You’ll get over 1000 complete charges with the battery which is typically 5+ years of use before a replacement is required.

Is the unit serviceable?

You bet it is. For years the e-assist market was dominated by small fly-by-night companies with good ideas and no balance sheet. The consumer took all the risk and were often left with technical assistance phone numbers that no longer worked. Today’s systems are made by huge players like Bosch, Yamaha, and Shimano – and they are sophisticated, which means they are updateable, diagnosable, and if something does break, fundamentally repairable.

How does this compare to other two-wheeled cargo bikes?

The City Mountain competes heavily with the Urban Arrow. With its lightweight EPS foam box and aluminum frame, the Urban Arrow truly outdoes the City Mountain from a materials perspective. Where the City Mountain shines is the Yamaha e-assist, which has more power and torque.

Can I use this bike for a business? Absolutely! We have sold the City to many companies, most typically as a high-speed delivery vehicle since it tends to be more efficient than three-wheeled options. The general rule is: if the bike is making money by constantly moving (usually deliveries), consider two wheels. If the bike is making money by stopping and engaging with customers, consider three wheels. An e-assist is especially great if time is money. Email eric@curbsidecycle.com if you’re interested in discussing a business solution.

What is this “Nuvinci” system?

Nuvinci is an American company that makes a super wide-range internal gear hub that is ‘infinitely variable,’ meaning you can roll the shifter forwards and backwards and there are no ‘clicks’ for gears. That means you can find the perfect gear for any terrain by twisting the shifter to exactly where you want it. It’s low maintenance and it’s really quite awesome.

Can I store it outside?

You bet! All Babboe bikes are built for perpetual outdoor storage. The steel frames are coated with an anti-rust undercoat and the frame features a super-tough and chip-resistant powder-coat. The box is made of marine-grade plywood sourced from Finland. And, all the mechanical parts are sealed inside the hub.

What is the maintenance like?Very low! Because the Babboe uses internal gears, the intervals between tune-ups are few and far between. We recommend oil on the chain and air in the tires every three weeks. We also recommend re-varnishing the wood box every 4-5 years.

Can I put a car seat inside?

You sure can. We recommend the Maxi Cosi brand since Babboe makes a very clever adaptor that bolts to the bottom of the box (which features suspension to reduce strain). The other option is the Babboe Baby Seat which is good for kids from 2-8 months (and takes up far less space). As you move from either of these options we recommend the Babboe Toddler seat which usually covers ages 8 to 18 months.

Can I add more seats?

You sure can! Babboe makes an extra bench that installs easily, bringing the kid count from two to four!

What’s the rear wheel lock good for?

The rear-wheel lock is a clever design built for short in-and-out errands where finding a locking-pole may take longer than the errand. The rear-wheel lock lets you momentarily lock the bike to itself. It’s great if you need to quickly dash in and out to grab a coffee or at the park having a picnic.

This is expensive! Will it get stolen?

Estimates are that over 90% of bicycle theft is tied to cash-for-drugs and this (unfortunately) makes every bike a target. Make sure you buy a good U-lock or a chain and your bike will be safe. You can read more about bike theft here.

What’s the warranty?

Five year warranty for manufacturer defects on frame and fork, two years on Yamaha e-assist and one year on parts (including wood box). Does not include wear and tear